Sayeed Muhammad of DOT: Bangladesh has “outperformed” its many South Asian neighbours in health-related achievements, “convincingly defying the expert view” that economic strength and abundant health resources are the key drivers of better population health, said a Bangladesh envoy.
“The Lancet, a renowned British medical journal, called Bangladesh’s success as one of the great mysteries of global health,” said Masud Bin Momen, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the UN, in New York.
He was delivering Bangladesh statement on the draft resolution on ‘Global health and foreign policy: healthier world through better nutrition under the agenda’ at the 73rd UN General Assembly (UNGA) in New York recently.
According to him, Bangladesh has seen remarkable health improvements since gaining its independence in 1971, and has evolved to a role model of “good health at low cost”.
Public Health scholars mentioned Bangladesh as a positive deviant, performing far better, given its widespread challenges, than anyone could have expected, he added.
In terms of health expenditure, per capita expenditure (PPP) from public funds in Bangladesh has increased to US$ 88 only in 2014 and it spent less than 3 percent of its GDP for health in the same year, said the Permanent Mission of Bangladesh to the United Nations on Saturday.
However, Bangladesh’s health achievements in reducing maternal, infant, and under-5 mortality rates, increased vaccination coverage, higher life expectancy at birth have come in spite of this low per capita GDP spending on healthcare, said Momen.
The envoy said challenges in global health, despite progress, still remain with special regard to inequities and vulnerabilities within and among countries, regions and populations.
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